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“You’re kidding.” Helen shoved at my leg. “You went to Amir for protection?”
“Sort of, yeah. We made a deal that I cook for him and his housemates every night and he watches out for me.”
That was the very sanitized version of our deal. I feared if I told them I was Amir’s pet, they’d lock me away and try to deprogram me. But I was entirely of sound mind. I’d known exactly what I was doing when I’d accompanied Elliott to the party that night...I just hadn’t predicted how it would work out.
Helen snarled. “Okay, I hate everything about that. You’re like his servant or something?”
Elena got out her phone. “One text to my dad, and he’ll ruin Amir right after he brings down Drew. Just say the word.”
“I’m fine, I promise. His housemates are really nice, and half the time, Amir isn’t the worst.”
Elena arched a brow. “And the other half? Is he the devil himself?”
“No. He’s…what you’d expect, I guess. Dark and angry.”
Helen shot up straight. “Has he hurt you? Do I need to pay him a visit with my bat? I will fuck him up.”
“No.” I shook my head hard. This was the exact opposite of what I wanted happening. “Please don’t. I swear, he hasn’t hurt me. He can be a real a-hole, but he hasn’t touched me like that.”
Helen settled slightly, but her body was still taut, like she was ready to grab her bat and beat the living hell out of Amir if I gave her a single hint it was what I wanted.
Elena kicked her feet out, resting them on the coffee table, her ankles crossed. “That doesn’t really explain why your mom thinks Amir’s your boyfriend.”
My sigh was heavy. This was a little trickier to explain without alarming them. The last thing I wanted to tell them was the way Amir had gone bananas seeing me in Eli’s arms. That sounded like a lot more than a deal, even in my own head.
“We happened to run into him and he just told my mom we were together. So, now she thinks that, and I’m okay with it because it gives her peace of mind.”
“Your mother has peace of mind that you’re with Amir?” Helen snorted. “That’s so fucking funny. He’s not even a drug dealer with a heart of gold. He’s just a drug dealer.”
“He’s not just a drug dealer. He’s in his junior year in the business school and wicked smart.” I wanted to kick myself for jumping to his defense, but there it was.
“You’re kidding me.” Elena leaned around me to speak to Helen. “Did you know he goes here?”
Helen threw up her hands. “Absolutely no clue. Then again, the only time I dealt with him was when I was picking up product, handing him money, or being threatened. You know, when he told me he’d burn down my trailer with my mom and sister inside if I didn’t pay him the money he owed me, that kind of fun stuff. So, forgive me if I don’t see his other facets. My opinion of him is skewed from the times he threatened to kill my family and made me believe he meant every word of it.”
My heart twisted painfully in my chest. I wouldn’t debate whether he meant it or not. It wasn’t my place to defend Amir. Even if it was, I couldn’t say with any certainty he wouldn’t have followed through on those threats.
“I know. He’s not a good guy. He’d tell you that himself.” I wrapped a loose thread from the hem of my T-shirt around my finger. “I guess that’s why I feel certain he’d defend me against Drew. I…maybe I’m being stupid and I’ll regret going to him, but it is what it is now. I promised him a semester, so I’m going to give it to him.”
Elena patted my knee. “You made your choice, I’ll respect it, but, babe, if you want out, tell me. I’m not kidding about my dad. You might believe Amir’s scary, but he’s got nothing on Gil Sanderson. He will make Amir’sancestorsregret ever existing.”
Goose bumps pricked my skin. “I believe you, El.” And it scared me to even contemplate someone coming after Amir like that, even if he deserved it. Even if he’d done terrible, unforgivable things.
“You’re not going to fall for him.” Helen wasn’t asking a question, she was demanding a promise. I really hadn't wanted to lie to either of them. Stretching the truth was one thing, but out and out lying? No, that wasn’t me. But I was in a corner I saw no way out of—a corner Helen had backed me into.
So, I lied.
“I won’t fall for him. Don’t worry, Hells.”
But maybe it wasn’t a lie. I wouldn’t fall for him now because I already had. Four months ago, when he’d tucked me in his lap, listened to me, and swept me away in all he was.
For the first time, I felt no dread when I climbed the steps to Amir’s house. Nerves had replaced my usual reluctance. I didn’t know how Amir would treat me today now that he didn’t have my family as an audience, but I hoped we wouldn’t go back to the way things were before.
It was eleven thirty when I opened the door with the key Amir had given me last week. I was a little early, but I expected the boys to be up and at least lounging around, having a lazy Sunday. Instead, I was greeted by silence.
I didn’t know what to do. Were they even here? I trailed through the downstairs, not finding a single soul or any sign of life. The three of them weren’t exactly the neatest, often leaving plates on the counter, but there was none of that.
With a sigh, I ventured upstairs, keeping my steps light just in case they were actually still asleep. Marco’s door was first, but it was sealed up tight. I didn’t dare try to peek in. Julien’s room came next, and his door was partway open. I stuck my head in, and my cheeks instantly burned bright. He was splayed on his back in the center of his bed, wearing only a pair of black briefs. I squeezed my eyes shut. The last thing I needed in my head was the vision of the ridges of his V disappearing into the low band of his underwear, even though it was now a little too late.
